International Water Management Institute, 127 Sunil Mw, Pelawatte, Sri Lanka.
Blue Resources Trust, 86, Barnes Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Nov;208:117033. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117033. Epub 2024 Oct 4.
The sinking and combustion of the MV X-Press Pearl in May 2021 caused severe marine pollution, releasing toxic materials and billions of plastic nurdles. Nurdle pollution threatens sensitive coastal habitats and negatively impacts social welfare. This study aimed to 1) conduct a citizen science program to quantify nurdle distribution during the disaster, and 2) evaluate the societal impact, attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions in the disaster's aftermath. Results derived via the citizen science study indicated that Colombo, Gampaha and Puttalam districts to be hotspot areas with the highest nurdle densities of 50,789 ± 1139 m, 48,107 ± 3408 m and 33,231 ± 689 m, respectively. Results from the public perception survey showed that the majority (80 %) of the respondents were affected by the incident. Over 70 % of the survey participants were either not satisfied or neutral towards the compensation provided for livelihood loss. Nearly 60 % took a neutral stance when questioned about the country's readiness to respond to marine disasters.
2021 年 5 月，MV X-Press Pearl 号沉没和燃烧造成了严重的海洋污染，释放出有毒物质和数十亿颗塑料小球。小球污染威胁着敏感的沿海栖息地，并对社会福利产生负面影响。本研究旨在：1）开展一项公民科学计划，以量化灾难期间小球的分布情况；2）评估灾难发生后的社会影响、态度、知识和认知。通过公民科学研究得出的结果表明，科伦坡、加勒和普塔勒姆地区是热点区域，小球密度最高的分别为 50789±1139 米、48107±3408 米和 33231±689 米。公众认知调查的结果显示，大多数（80%）受访者受到了该事件的影响。超过 70%的调查参与者对因生计损失而提供的赔偿表示不满意或中立。近 60%的人在被问及该国应对海洋灾害的准备情况时持中立态度。
